Wet Wipes with Improved Preservative Properties

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/733,734, entitled Wet Wipes With Improved Preservative Properties, filed on Dec. 13, 2024, the entirety of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a cleaning composition comprising one or more dicarboxylic acids, an alcohol and/or a phospholipid complex.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Increasing number of consumers are seeking cleaning products that not only are more natural or sustainable, but which also exhibit better overall safety of use. Consumers prefer products that can be readily used around children and pets in convenient forms such as pre-loaded disposable wipes or ready to use sprays, but these safer and more sustainable products still are expected to deliver performance on many attributes, such as cleaning and reduction of germs, at parity to traditional products.

In particular, wet wipes, or cleaning wipes, have gained wide public acceptance in the area of infant care products. Infant care wipes commonly include mild cleaning solutions, while facial wipes can include emulsions (i.e. water-in-oil or oil-in-water). Cleaning wipes can also include waxes and polish to clean furniture and/or other metal, plastic and/or wood surfaces. Wet wipes can further include soaps and/or detergents to clean an individual's hands, countertops, floors, appliances, and/or the like. An additional ingredient is ammonia for cleaning glass surfaces. Short chain alcohols and various other biocides can also be included on cleaning wipes to disinfect or sanitize a variety of surfaces.

Traditional wet wipe preservation systems used in personal care applications continue to present challenges to effectively control microbial growth, which is inherent and part of the natural bioburden that occurs in raw materials and during manufacturing, storage and consumer use. Many preservative ingredients and compositions found in wet wipes have been used for many years but do not provide sufficient antimicrobial properties required for current commercial products. In addition, many of the prior art preservative ingredients and compounds are no longer regulatory compliant, fail to work effectively and/or are not acceptable to consumers.

In view of the present state of the art of cleaning compositions for wet wipes, there is a need for an improved preservative composition for inclusion within a wet wipe cleaning formulation that can be used in a variety of applications related to personal care, surface cleaning, antibacterial, disinfects, sanitizers, and/or surfaces without the deficiencies presented above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In light of the foregoing, in one exemplary embodiment the invention is directed to an effective self-preservation system or broad-spectrum antimicrobial enhancement activity or preservative composition for use in conjunction with cleaning compositions applied to an/or impregnated within wet wipes. The self-preservation system or broad-spectrum antimicrobial enhancement activity/preservative composition is a formulation that comprises one or more ingredients heretofore not recognized for having microorganism inhibiting/preservative/antimicrobial properties, including one or more dicarboxylic acids in combination with one or more alcohols, such as polyhydric alcohols, e.g., diols and/or triols, e.g., a glycerin, and a phospholipid. Examples of such phospholipids include alkyl PG-dimonium chloride phosphates, including those with a fatty acid chain length between 10 and 20 carbons, including but not limited to cocamidopropyl PG-dimonium chloride phosphate. Self-preservation is achieved by combining previously unknown preservative-functional ingredients that collectively produce an environment that is unfavorable for the growth of microorganisms in a synergistic manner that provides unexpected results in view of the ability of the individual components to inhibit microorganism growth in an environmentally-friendly manner.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, other components are optionally present in a cleaning composition including the anti-microbial/preservative formulation, such as, for example, water, surfactants, emollients, solvents, skin conditioning agents, humectants, fragrances, botanical extracts, oils, silicones and the like, and combinations of the same. All components of the formulation are blended together to form a wet wipe composition, solution or emulsion that can be impregnated within or otherwise applied to a nonwoven, cloth or paper substrate, or combinations of the same to form a usable wet wipe that is sufficiently preserved for storage and consumer use.

According to one aspect of an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a method of cleaning a surface includes the steps of providing a cleaning composition having a preservative composition including at least one dicarboxylic acid, an alcohol and an organic phospholipid and applying the cleaning composition to surface.

According to still another aspect of an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a cleaning wipe includes a substrate and a cleaning composition loaded onto the substrate, the cleaning composition formed of preservative composition having at least one dicarboxylic acid, an alcohol and an alkyl PG-dimonium chloride phosphate.

According to still a further aspect of an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a cleaning composition includes a preservative composition having at least one dicarboxylic acid, an alcohol and an organic phospholipid for use as a preservative and/or anti-microbial component of the cleaning composition.

Without limitation then, in other exemplary embodiments this invention is also a wet wipe, or cleaning wipe, comprising a formulation comprising at least one layer of a nonwoven material, and a cleaning composition with a preservative component comprising at least one dicarboxylic acid, one or more alcohols, such as one or more diols and/or triols, and an alkyl PG-dimonium chloride phosphate with a fatty acid chain length between 10 and 20 carbons. In one aspect, other components are optionally present in the cleaning composition, such as, for example, water, surfactants, emollients, solvents, skin conditioning agents, humectants, fragrances, botanical extracts, oils, silicones and the like, and combinations of the same.

Other features, benefits and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from this summary and its descriptions of certain embodiments of such formulations and compositions, and will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art having knowledge of the synthetic techniques described therewith. Such features, benefits and advantages will be apparent from the above as taken into conjunction with the accompanying examples, data, and all reasonable inferences to be drawn therefrom.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS

The invention relates to a preservative formulation for a cleaning composition (or simply a “cleaning composition”) comprising at least one dicarboxylic acid, an alcohol, which in one exemplary embodiment is a diol and/or glycol, and a phospholipid complex. The cleaning composition of the invention can be used, for example, on personal care wet wipes such as baby wipes, facial wipes, moist toilet tissue, pet wipes, antibacterial wipes, hand-cleaning wipes and wipes for incontinence and feminine hygiene, as well as other types of cleaning wet wipes. As used herein, a “wipe” is a type of article suitable for cleansing or disinfecting or for applying a compound and/or removing materials and compounds from skin and surfaces, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,101,612; 6,814,974; and 6,444,214, each of which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes. In one particular embodiment of the disclosure, this term refers to an article for cleansing the body, including the removal of bodily waste.

Preferably, the phospholipid complex is an organic phospholipid. Nonlimiting examples of organic phospholipids include alkyl PG-dimonium chloride phosphates with a fatty acid chain length between 10 and 20 carbons, such as, for example, cocamidopropyl PG-dimonium chloride phosphate. Other non-limiting examples of suitable alkyl PG-dimonium chloride phosphates include sodium coco PG-dimonium chloride phosphate, stearamidopropyl PG-dimonium chloride phosphate, myristalamidopropyl PG-dimonium chloride phosphate, sodium borageamidopropyl PG-dimonium chloride phosphate, linoleamidopropyl PG-dimonium chloride phosphate, linoleamidopropyl PG-dimonium chloride phosphate dimethicone, and the like.

Referring to cocamidopropyl PG-dimonium chloride phosphate, specifically, the complex belongs to a family of products that are multifunctional, natural triglyceride phospholipids and are similar to phospholipids that occur naturally in the body. Cocamidopropyl PG-dimonium chloride phosphate is a coconut oil derived phospholipid composed predominantly of diester and triester phosphatides with multiple-chain groups. It displays a broad range of functional attributes including gentle cleansing and foaming properties, anti-irritation effects when combined with anionic or nonionic surfactants, unusually high substantivity, long-lasting skin conditioning, and broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. Cocamidopropyl PG-dimonium chloride phosphates generally have the following formula:

wherein the “R” group originates from coconut oil (i.e. C₁₀-C₂₀ alkyl) and “x”+“y” equals the integer 3.

As referred to herein, the dicarboxylic acid is a compound having the following structure: HO₂C—R—CO₂H wherein the R group can be an aliphatic group or an aromatic group. Further, the dicarboxylic acid available for use in the present disclosure is any dicarboxylic acid capable of providing antimicrobial effects to a composition including a diol and/or glycol, and a phospholipid complex and the at least one dicarboxylic acid.

In certain exemplary embodiments, the dicarboxylic acid can be formed of one or more acyclic or linear dicarboxylic acids having the following structure HO₂C(CH₂)_nCO₂H, where n is between 0 and 20.

In still other exemplary embodiments, certain particular linear dicarboxylic acids are employed where n is between 1 and 10, or can be selected from the group including propanedioic acid, butanedioic acid, pentanedioic acid, hexanedioic acid, heptanedioic acid, octanedioic acid, nonanedioic acid, decanedioic acid undecanedioic acid, and dodecanedioic acid, among others. More particularly, the dicarboxylic acid is a saturated linear dicarboxylic acid, including azelaic acid:

an acne and rosacea treatment composition, used alone or in combination with other suitable dicarboxylic acids, such as aliphatic dicarboxylic acids, including diglycolic acid, and/or monocarboxylic acids, such as alpha-, beta- and/or gamma-hydroxycarboxylic acids, such as glycolic acid.

In other exemplary embodiments, the dicarboxylic acid, and carboxylic acid, if present, may be present in its free or salt form, and it shall be understood that the terms “dicarboxylic acid” and/or any particular exemplary or preferred dicarboxylic acid, including but not limited to azelaic acid, include within the scope thereof the free form of the compounds as well as their salts and/or complexes thereof as well as materials which are precursors to such compounds, salts and complexes which upon addition react to form such compounds, salts and complexes, unless otherwise specifically noted.

In other exemplary embodiments, the dicarboxylic acid, and carboxylic acid, if present, may be present in its free or salt form, and it shall be understood that the terms “dicarboxylic acid” and/or any particular exemplary or preferred dicarboxylic acid, including but not limited to azelaic acid, include within the scope thereof the free form of the compounds as well as their salts and/or complexes thereof as well as materials which are precursors to such compounds, salts and complexes which upon addition react to form such compounds, salts and complexes, unless otherwise specifically noted.

Another component of the preservative formulation is an alcohol, which can be a polyhydric alcohol that in one exemplary embodiment takes the form of a diol. In certain exemplary embodiments, one or more diols can be included in the composition, with each diol selected from diols having a primary chain length of C₂-C₂₀ in some exemplary embodiments, as well as diols having a primary chain length of C₃-C₁₀ in other exemplary embodiments, including a 1,2-diol, such as propylene glycol (propane-1,2-diol), or 1,3-diol, such as propanediol, or 1,2-hexanediol, and combinations thereof which has the following structure:

or a 1,5-diol, such as 1,5-pentanediol, which has the following structure:

In addition to, or as a substitute for one or more of the polyhydric alcohols and/or diols, the composition can also include a glycol. While a number of different glycols can be utilized, certain exemplary embodiments the glycol is caprylyl glycol or 1,2-octanediol which has the following general structure: (CH₃(CH₂)₅CHOCH₂OH), ethylene glycol, which has the following general structure: HO(CH₂)₂OH, and propylene glycol, which has the following general structure: HO(CH₃)₂OH, among other suitable glycols.

Other forms of a diol which can be useful in the compositions described herein as a substitute for or in combination with the polyhydric alcohols, diols and/or glycols include molecules derived from other polyhydric alcohols, such as glycerin or other triols. Glycerin and other triols can be reacted with other molecules to create a diol such examples such as glyceryl monoethers, such as ethylhexylglycerin [3-(2-ethylhexyloxy)propane-1,2-diol] and or glyceryl monoesters, such as glyceryl monolaurate, and glyceryl monocaprylate.

It is to be understood that the formulation for the cleaning composition including the preservative composition can optionally include various other components or adjuncts. The one or more dicarboxylic acids, one or more diols, glycerin and/or glycols, alkyl PG-dimonium chloride phosphates and various other components are blended together to form a wet wipe cleaning composition, solution or emulsion, or portion thereof, that can be applied to a substrate to form a usable wet wipe that is sufficiently preserved for storage and consumer use.

The combination of the one or more dicarboxylic acids and one or more diols, glycerins and/or glycols in combination with the phospholipid, e.g., the one or more alkyl PG-dimonium chloride phosphates, provide an enhanced performing preservative system for use in a wet wipe cleaning composition that provides antimicrobial properties that are unexpected in light of the efficacy of the individual components for this purpose.

In certain particular exemplary embodiments of the wet wipe cleaning composition including the preservative formulation of the present disclosure, the amount of dicarboxylic acid, e.g., the azelaic acid, in the wet wipe cleaning composition ranges from about 0.01% to about 5.0% by weight of the cleaning composition, more specifically from about 0.05% to about 3.0% by weight of the cleaning composition, even more specifically from about 0.1% to about 2.0% by weight of the cleaning composition, and most specifically form about 0.3% to about 1.0% by weight of the cleaning composition.

In another exemplary embodiment, the total amount of diol, glycerin and/or glycols present in the wet wipe cleaning composition ranges from about 0.01% to about 8.0% by weight of the cleaning composition, more specifically from about 0.05% to about 5.0% by weight of the cleaning composition, and most specifically from about 0.1% to about 3.0% by weight of the cleaning composition.

In still another exemplary embodiment, the amount of organic phospholipid, e.g., the alkyl PG-dimonium chloride phosphate, in the wet wipe cleaning composition ranges from about 0.01% to about 6.0% by weight of the cleaning composition more specifically from about 0.1% to about 4.0% by weight of the cleaning composition, and most specifically from about 0.3% to about 2.0% by weight of the cleaning composition.

As stated above, the cleaning composition may optionally include and/or be used in combination with one or more additional components or adjuncts. The adjuncts include, but are not limited to, water, surfactants, emollients, fragrances and/or perfumes, botanical extracts, oils and/or lotions, silicones, waxes, dyes and/or colorants, solubilizing materials, stabilizers, thickeners, defoamers, hydrotropes, chelating agents, buffers, builders, enzymes, solvents, bleaching agents, cloud point modifiers, preservatives and/or combinations of the same. Any suitable solvent can be utilized with the preservative formulation and cleaning composition including the preservative formulation of the invention, but in certain exemplary embodiments the solvent is selected from C₂-C₂₀ but preferably C₃-C₁₀ diols, or from C₂-C₂₀ but preferably C₃-C₁₀ glycols/diols. Further, the diols and/or glycols utilized as the solvent can be the same as or different from those utilized in the cleaning composition, such that in certain embodiments the cleaning composition can function as the solvent.

In one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the cleaning composition can be loaded onto an absorbent substrate. The absorbent substrate is preferably water-insoluble. By “water insoluble” is meant that the substrate does not dissolve but may readily break apart upon immersion in water. This cleaning composition can be used on flushable wipes in which the nonwoven substrate readily breaks apart after flushing. The water insoluble substrate is the implement or vehicle for delivering the cleaning composition of the present invention to the skin to be cleansed and moisturized. As used herein, the terms “substrate” or “wipe” are intended to include any material on which a cleaning composition may be loaded. In functional applications, a substrate is used to clean an article or a surface, as by wiping. Substrates comprise woven or non-woven materials, typically made from a plurality of fibers. The substrate can be used by itself (typically by hand) or attached to a cleaning implement, such as a floor mop, handle, or a handheld cleaning tool, such as a toilet cleaning device. A wide variety of materials can be used as the substrate. Nonlimiting examples of suitable water insoluble substrates include nonwoven substrates, woven substrates, sponges, cloths, meshes, papers, paper towels, napkins, cleaning pads, and the like.

Preferred embodiments employ nonwoven substrates since they are economical and readily available in a variety of materials. By nonwoven is meant that the layer is comprised of fibers which are not woven into a fabric but rather are formed into a membrane, sheet, substrate, mat, absorbent core or pad layer or combinations thereof. Nonwoven substrates may be comprised of a variety of materials both natural and synthetic. By natural is meant that the materials are derived from plants, animals, insects or byproducts of plants, animals, and insects. By synthetic is meant that the materials are obtained primarily from various man-made materials or from natural materials which have been further altered. The conventional base starting material is usually a fibrous web comprising any of the common synthetic or natural textile-length fibers, or mixtures thereof. Non-limiting examples of natural materials useful in the present invention are silk fibers, keratin fibers and cellulosic fibers. Non-limiting examples of keratin fibers include those selected from the group consisting of wool fibers, camel hair fibers, and the like. Non-limiting examples of cellulosic fibers include those selected from the group consisting of wood pulp fibers, cotton fibers, hemp fibers, jute fibers, flax fibers, and mixtures thereof. Non-limiting examples of synthetic materials useful in the present invention include those selected from the group consisting of acetate fibers, acrylic fibers, cellulose ester fibers, modacrylic fibers, polyamide fibers, polyester fibers, polyolefin fibers, polyvinyl alcohol fibers, rayon fibers, polyurethane foam, and mixtures thereof. Examples of some of these synthetic materials include acrylics such as acrilan, creslan, and the acrylonitrile-based fiber, orlon; cellulose ester fibers such as cellulose acetate, arnel, and acele; polyamides such as nylons; polyesters such as fortrel, kodel, and the polyethylene terephthalate fiber, dacron; polyolefins such as polypropylene, polyethylene; polyvinyl acetate fibers; polyurethane foams and mixtures thereof. It is noted that the range of cleaning solutions impregnated into the substrate includes from between 100% to 500% of the dry weight of the substrate.

Without being bound to any theory, the invention has shown that the dicarboxylic acid alone and/or with the diol(s), glycol(s) glycerin(s) or combinations thereof provides a preservative booster to the preservative system containing a phospholipid complex (such as cocamidopropyl PG-dimonium chloride phosphate) which may have some limited preservation activity independently, depending on the level in the final formulation.

EXAMPLES

Table 1 shows one example formulation for cleaning compositions to be loaded onto wet wipes, including components and amounts of the same that represent a specific working example of the inventive cleaning composition and preservative composition provided therein.

TABLE 1
Example Formulation of Cleaning Composition

	Ingredient	% Use Level
	Water	Q.S. (97.0)
	Cocamidopropyl PG Dimonium Phosphate	1.5
	Azelaic Acid	0.5
	Caprylyl Glycol	1.0
	pH buffers (e.g., sodium citrate and	0.1-0.3
	citric acid)

In still other exemplary embodiments, sodium benzoate and or potassium sorbate can be added to the composition as the dicarboxylic acid, e.g., azeliac acid, addition can decrease the pH of the cleaning composition to cause the sodium benzoate and or potassium sorbate to disassociate to the respective acid forms which provide additional fungicidal activity to the cleaning composition.

In still other exemplary embodiments, sodium benzoate and or potassium sorbate can be added to the composition as the dicarboxylic acid, e.g., azeliac acid, addition can decrease the pH of the cleaning composition to cause the sodium benzoate and or potassium sorbate to disassociate to the respective acid forms which provide additional fungicidal activity to the cleaning composition.

The disclosures of all articles and references, including patents, are incorporated herein by reference. The invention and the manner and process of making and using it are now described in such full, clear, concise and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, to make and use the same. All references cited in this specification are incorporated herein by reference. It is to be understood that the foregoing describes preferred embodiments of the present invention and that modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.